Predators' rivalry with Columbus Blue Jackets now just two games a season

Tennessean | Nov 27

After years of squaring off with the Blue Jackets multiple times per season as a divisional rival, the Predators are making their lone trip of the season to Columbus.

Nashville will visit its old Central Division foe that now resides in the Eastern Conference today (6 p.m., Fox TN, 102.5-FM).

The Predators forged a bit of a rivalry with the Blue Jackets, who entered the league in 2000, because of geography, age of the organizations and divisional alignment. But the league realignment over the offseason placed them in separate conferences. As a result, Nashville will see Columbus just twice a year instead of six times.

“It was definitely a rivalry game, and even though we won’t see each other as much I think there is still going to be that rivalry there,” forward Nick Spaling said. “It is two teams that have battled a lot in the past while coming up at the same time into the league, so it’s definitely still going to be there.”

Nashville holds a 50-23-1 all-time record against the Blue Jackets, so fewer games with Columbus is not necessarily good news for the Predators.

“It’s a change, for sure. We are so close to them and used to going there so much,” Spaling said. “To be playing them for the first time at this point in the season is a little different for us.”

“It will be (unique) because they have been in our conference forever,” coach Barry Trotz added. “Good memories and some good friends there — it will be familiar territory for most of our guys.”

Columbus will make its lone trip to Nashville on March 8.

Hornqvist, Forsberg stay home: Forwards Patric Hornqvist and Filip Forsberg did not practice on Tuesday and did not travel with the team to Columbus.

It will be Hornqvist’s second game out of the lineup after leaving Saturday’s contest against the Rangers in the first period because of an upper-body injury. Forsberg, also dealing with an upper-body injury, will miss his sixth straight game.

Rinne MRI pushed back: The Predators announced on Tuesday that injured goaltender Pekka Rinne (hip) will have his next MRI pushed back to Dec. 5, with an announcement on his updated condition expected to come in the following days.

The procedure was projected to happen in late November, but team officials said it was pushed back because of scheduling conflicts presented by the Thanksgiving holiday.